Electromagnetically actuated control for servo mechanisms



Sept. 29, 1953 J. MoULToN 2,653,579

ELECTROMAGNETICALLY ACTUATED CONTROL FOR. SERVO MECHANISMS original Filed May 2o, 195o 2 sheets-sheet 1 WMI INVENTOR. Lm/b Jackson Maul ro/v 2O qmbl m www Sept. 29, 1953 1 MOULTON 2,653,579

ELECTROMAGNETICALLY ACTUATED CONTROL FOR SERV@ MECHANISMS Original Filed May 20, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 65' INVENTOR. Lara Jar/JON Mara TON Patented Sept. 29, r1953 ELECTROMAGETICALLY ACTUATED CONTROL FOR SERVO MECHANISMS Lloyd Jackson Moulton, Mentor, Ohio, assignor to The Marquette Metal Products Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Original application May 20, 1950, Serial No.

163,115. Divided and this application Febru ary 10, 195,1, Serial No. 210,344

3 Claims.

The application is a division of my application Serial No. 163,115, led May 20, 1950 (patent issued September 1, 1953, No. 2,650,580), hereinafter parent application relating to a control mechanism for internal combustion engine driven electric generator systems such as commonlyused to drive the traction motors of locomotive vehicles. The system shown in said application provides a control for the internal combustion engine and its generator, such that notwithstanding large variations in traction motor power demand the engine and generator are enabled to operate eiiiciently within safe load limits and at selectable engine and generator speeds suited to the variations in load or power demand.

Subject hereof indicating one of its objects provides an improved means for eiiecting stepby-step adjustment of engine speed settings in accordance with predetermined combinations of remotely selected electrical signals.

A specic object is to provide an improved means for translating rapidly effected, relatively weak signal-responsive input motions, as of solenoids, into relatively strong controlled rate motions of a single output device.

A further specific object is to provide a relatively simple servo control system including two effective interconnected relatively intersecting levers, one containing two input points adjustable as functions of remotely energized signals and the other containing an output point for connection to a servo, the points or the axes of the levers establishing a iloating plane, said effective levers being thereby combinable ifdesired into a single simple lever member spaced points on which can be used as output and relai7 actuating connections.

Other objects and novel features will be explained in or become apparent from the following description of the illustrated embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing the principal elements of the control mechanism` of said' parent application.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective View showing one manner in which remotely selected signals may be received and translated by subject mechanism into the desired output motions for engine speed setting.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of one physical arrangement of parts essentially according to Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a similar View showing a modified physical arrangement of parts.

The invention as one aspect thereof provides a system for efficiently and safely controlling the loading adjustments of an internal-combustion-engine-driven electric generator for rail locomotive service, largely through operation of the engine governor in response to speed change detection thereby, in accordance with varying power demands on an electric traction motor or plurality of motors supplied with current by the generator.

The engine governor G, as schematically shown in Fig. 1, is of the hydraulic relay type arranged for isochronous operation, and has a fuel regulatng servo piston mechanism F, pilot valve P and a speed setting means including remotely controllable actuator mechanism for a hydraulically operated speed setting servo mechanism S, all more fully described later. The various mechanisms of Fig. 1 are shown in positions occupied when the engine is in operation at idle or low speed.

Electrical load control In Fig. 1, at upper right, a well known type of hydraulic mechanism is indicated at E for acljusting the electrical loading or load carrying capacity of the generator (not shown) as by varying its field excitation resistance. The vane 2 of reversible load control motor I is moved as indicated to increase generator excitation and thereby increase its electrical loading when operating fluid is admitted to the motor I through line 3 and removed therefrom through line 4; u

and the opposite effect follows reverse routing of fluid and reverse indicated movement of the vane (decreased excitation, decreased load).

Operating fluid for the electrical load control motor I may conveniently be supplied from the lubricating oil system of the engine (not shown) as through a line 5 which leads to an inlet chamber 6 0f a load control valve l having a multiported sleeve 8 and axially shiftable plunger il with lands 9a and 9b normally closing outlet/inlet ports connected respectively with the motor fluid supply lines 3 and 4. The rate of operation of vane motor I may be controlled for maximum acceleration consistent with equipment safety by throttling the exhaust fluid from the vane motor as by individually adjustable needle valves Illa and IIa in exhaust iluid lines I0 and II connected with respective end portions of the valve sleeve 8 and vented to atmospheric pressure or engine lubricating oil sump as at AI2 between the needle valves.

The load control valve 'l is actuated by an intermediate portion of a iloating lever I4 through 3 an adjustable connection I5 therewith. Said lever is connected at one end to the speed setting servo piston 2| of mechanism S and at the other end, adjustably at I6 to governor servo piston tail rod 24. Valve 1 is normally maintained in the illustrated neutral position by the floatingv lever I4. For a given speed setting, a change of generator load causes valving motion of the load control valve by normal governor fuel regulating servo motion. 'Ihe load control valve 1 is so connected to the load control vane motor I that action of the motor is such as to counteract the generator load change that has taken place. This vane motor action will continue until, through normal governor action, the governor fuel regulating servo F has returned the load control valve to its neutral position.

In event of a change in speed setting servo adjustment (mechanism S) valving action ofthe load control valve 1 will cause through the load control motor a change of generator loading in the same direction as the speed change until, through normal action ofthe governor fuel regulating servo F, the load control valve is returned to its neutral position. `Thus for each position of the speed setting servo with a neutral load control valve position, there is a corresponding governor fuel regulating servo position.

Hydraulic relay governor The governor G has a speed sensitive mechanisrn 33 including iiyballs 34 on a rotary ballhead assembl y 35 driven as will be explained, the iiyballs acting on the plunger 36 of pilot valve P in non-rotating pilot valve sleeve 3,1. Outward action of the flyballs is opposed by a Speeder spring 38 connected to the pilot valve plunger 36 through a thrust plate assembly 33.

For minimization of static friction in the essential elements of the governor pilot valve the yballs turn the valve plunger 36 in its sleeve 31 through the intermediary of the assembly 35 substantially as in Kalin Patent 2,219,229 issued October 22, 1940. An anti-friction bearing (not shown) is interposed between thrust plate assembly 39 and a non-rotating support for the speeder spring as fully shownin said patent. Speed setting servo piston 2| of mechanism S adjusts the Speeder spring 38 to set the engine speed` by a succession of direct actions on said spring, raising of the piston resulting in decreased engine speed settings and lowering resultingin increased speed settings.

Hydraulic fluid from the pump and accumulator system (hereinafter governor pressure oil or governor oil) is continuallyV admitted to the top (smaller area 23') of the governorservo or power piston 23 through line 40,v portion 40a thereof. In the neutral orequilibrium position of the governor pilot ,valve plunger 3,6 oil is trapped in contact with the lower larger side 23" of the power piston. Fuel on movement of the power piston results from downward pilot valve plunger movement admitting governor oilv through ports 4| of pilot valve sleeve 31 and liner 42 to the larger piston side 23, and Fuel on movement results from upward movement of` said valve plunger, thereby spilling trapped oil from line 42 to governor sump through ports 43 of pilot valve sleeve 31.

Feedback from governor power piston 23 to the governor pilot valve P is shown in theY form of a hydraulic compensation system arranged f or isochronous governor operation. The power piston 23 pumps compensation oil throughY line 45,v

to and from the working chamber of a receiving compensation piston 46 attached. to the pilot valve plunger 36 by a coil spring 41; and an adjustable leak-oil for compensation oil is provided in the system at 48.

Speed setting servo system The governor speed setting servo mechanism S includes a speed setting servo pilot valve mechanism 50 shown in Fig. 1 at the left of the governor pilot valve. Valve mechanism 50 comprises a valve sleeve 5| and valve plunger 52 slidable therein. A relatively smaller (lower) area 2|' of the speed setting servo piston 2| is continually exposed to governor pressure oil through a line 53 connected with line portion 40a of line 40. Line 40 is continually connected with accumulator output line 55 through a cavity 54 around valve sleeve 5|. A valve chamber 56 within the sleeve 5| (dened in part by relatively upper and lower elective lands 51 and 58 of the valve plunger) is continually connected, via line 59, with the upper relatively larger effective area 2| of the piston 2-I.

The speed setting servo pilot valve mechanism 50 is shown in a neutral position and it will be observed that upward movement of the plunger 52 can cause a pair of slots 51a of land 51 (one slot shown) to open ports 60 and permit governor pressure oil from line 40 to be supplied through line 59 to the larger (top) side of speed setting servo piston 2| and cause downward movement of the piston. Similarly downward movement of the pilot valve plunger 52 (opposing return spring 6I below the plunger) enables paired slots 58a in land 58 (one slot shown) to open sump-connected ports 62, resulting in spilling oil trapped in line 59, thereby to cause or enable upward movement of speed setting servo piston 2| through the continually effective governor oil pressure on lower piston face 2|'.

Primarily to minimize static-.friction-forcerestraint on valving relative movement of speed setting pilot valve elements 5|, 52, and, concomitantly, to vcontrol the rate of movement of the speed lsetting servo piston 2| and of a hydraulically acting shutdown mechanism acting through the valve mechanism 50 while enabling use of undiminished governor oil pressure (mechanism later explained), the pilot valve sleeve 5I is continually rotated during governor operation. ,The sleeve 5| for that purpose is (e. g.) keyed to one of the two gears which form the principal elements of the governor oil pump 3|. The sleeve 5|, in turn, through a set of mating gears 5Ia at the top of the valve sleeve, drives the ball head 35, and therethrough the governor pilot valve plunger 36.

The speed setting servo rate control according to Fig. 1 (assuming rotation of the pilot valve sleeve 5I and that plunger 52 is suitably held against rotation) is illustrated by supposing that plunger 52 is raised from the illustrated neutral position (for increased speed setting by application of governor pressure oil to upper chamber of servo piston 2|), whereupon it is apparent that the slots 51a of land 51` can only register with the ports 60 on each partial rotation of the sleeve, causing interrupted admission or spurtwise flow of governor oil into line 59. Similarly, when the valve plunger 52 is lowered a limited amount (for decreased speed setting) slots 58a of land 58 interruptedly align with the spill ports 62 for spurtwise iiow through the valve.

If more than. the limited loweringv movement oi the speed setting servo pilot valve plunger 52 takes place, then the entire top edge of land 58 controls spill ports 62, resulting in rapidtravel of the speed setting servo piston toward the minimum speed setting and shutdown-effecting positions. Shutdown action of said piston 2| (explained later) is through the intermediary of the governor pilot valve P.

Speed, setting servo system actuator Speed setting servo piston 2| is arranged to be actuated by the above described pilot valve mechanism 5|) through a remote-control signalresponsive differential and feedback lever system two exemplary forms of which are shown in Figs. 3 and A. The utilized positions of the eiective levers of both arrangements in relation to permutatable signal-receiving elements (e g. solenoid-lever combinations) are diagrammatically shown in Fig. 2 and will be described later.

In Fig. 3 the servo mechanism S is represented by servo piston 2i and relay valve plunger 52 as pivotally connected at respective speed points t5 and t6 along the effective longitudinal axis of a floating lever 68 one end of which is pivotally connected at point 69 with a differential lever lil. Point 65 is the output point of the system, and the input points are represented at 1| and l2 which are preferably at the opposite ends of the differential lever 10. It will be apparent that the output point 65 in conjunction with the input points il, 'l2 (likewise the longitudinal axes ci the effective levers) determine a floating plane.

Signal receiving members are shown in the form of solenoid-operated generally parallel levers 'is and it one end (e. g.) of each of which is connected to a respective end (points Il and l2) of the differential lever 'it as by clevis-like joint elements (e. g. pins and elongated slots) with suitable provision for vertical adjustment relative to the armatures of the solenoids, described later. The floating lever 68 may also have provision ior vertical adjustment of point 65 with respect to the relay valve plunger. In Fig. 3 a pivotal connection at point 69 between differential lever 'iii and floating lever 68 is indicated as a line bearing (like a hinge) but no provision for relative pivoting between levers S8 and IG is actually necessary as will be explained.

In Fig. i approximately the essential arrangement of Fig. 3 is represented by the combining of the iioating lever 63 and dierential lever 10 into a single member shown in the form of a substantially rigid universally floating plate '15, e. g. sheet metal stamping, the effective lever axes and essential connection points being generally indicated by the same characters as used in Fig. 3 but primed. Point 'G3' does not act as a pivot; and, in order to allow the necessary universal iioating movement of the plate l5, a spherical joint 'i6 is substituted for the assumed hinge joint connection of lever @s to the relay valve element 52 of the servo system. The connection at 6.3 between lever BS and the servo piston 2| is a suitable point bearing. The plate 75 can be maintained in freely operating position and the necessary bearing elements held in working contact by provision oi combined action (e. g. looped leaf) springs "il attached to the plate and some fixed part of the governorspeed-setting mechanism housing or supporting bracket portion thereof.

In Fig. 2 the remotely-controllable signal receivers are more or less diagrammatically represented as four solenoids A, B, C. and D, the

armatures of which are assumed to be appropriately connected to the levers 13 and 14 for push or push-pull operation thereof. The number of solenoids is already established in practice and also their manner of control (order and permutation of energization and de-energization). The solenoid armatures normally have equal length strokes.

Signal permutation Subject system uses permutation of the four equal strokes of the solenoids A, B, C, and D to effect all the necessary incremental positioning of the speed setting servo piston 2| as desired for diesel-electric locomotive engine control at the present time. The clevis type connections at points 18 in Fig. 3 between the armatures of solenoids B, C, and D and the levers 13 or 14 are partly for holding the levers in proper working planes, and those armatures pull upwardly on the levers at the connection points against the resistance of suitable downwardly acting springs (not shown) associated with the solenoids. Solenoid A acts downwardly when energized (against an opposing spring, not shown), through a clevis 78 or any other suitable connection (e. g. point bearing) against the lever '13. The armature, lever connections, and positioning springs serve alternately as fulcrums as already known to the art.

Selective energization of the solenoids is ef- :fected by operation of an electrically conductive contactor drum element or plate such as represented at 19, Fig. 2, profiled to establish and disestablish current in respect to the solenoids A, B, C and D in predetermined combination sequence in accordance with relative positions of element 19 and the row of solenoid-etc.connected contacts 19 as well understood in the electric controller art. The positions for engine shutdown (stop), for starting (idle) and the various steps for increased speed settings: #2, #3, etc. (#1 being for electrical load control purposes only), are indicated on Fig. 2 adjacent the drum.

element 19. Shifting of said element through stopcontacting position and the various indicated control steps energises the` solenoids in the following order: D; none: None; A; C; AC; BDC; ABCD; BC; and ABC. In indicated step #l the generator excitation is energized and remains energized for all the subsequent steps.

By energizing and deenergizing the four solenoids A, B, C, and D all possible input motion subdivisions (three subdivisions for each pair of solenoids) are established. When both solenoids A and C are deenergized the servo control or differential lever input point position of lever 'i3 is at OO, Fig. 2. Similarly solenoid A on and C off results in servo control system input point position A: with A off and C on: input point position C results; and with both solenoids A and C on input point position AC.

Similarly, combinations of action and inaction on part of solenoids B and D result in the indicated input point positions OO, B", D and B"D at the opposite end of the diierential lever 10.

The resulting combinations of input point subdivisions operate through the diiierential lever 'l0 to provide a plurality of net input subdivisions at point 69 of the effective levers t3, le. Nine equal net input subdivisions may be obtained by location of net input point 69 at one third of the distance along the diierential lever between the input points 1| and 'l2 and by semengen:

lecting appropriate combinationsof input sub.

divisions. Seven equal net input subdivisions are used between steps #l and #8. two of such obtainable subdivisions being used for engine shutdown.

In Fig. 2 it may be observed that the amplication ratio of the servo system is determined by the ratio of eiective feedback lever length elements 66-65z56-69, the embodiment thereby resulting in a reversely acting feedback lever. If a direct acting feedback lever were to be used the relay actuating point 66 would be located along an extension of the effective feedback lever beyond point 69; but the ratio of the distances `lil---iSzGt--til would still determine the amplifying ratio.

Signal actuated ualving It will be apparent from the above that as the control drum or contactor element 19 is moved, as from idle through the various speed setting increment steps #2, #3, etc., the speed setting servo piston 2 I, notwithstanding the rapid action of the solenoids, will be moved gradually through the corresponding positions due to the low rate of fluid movement (interrupted, spurtwise flow) through the speed setting servo pilot valve 58 via the slots 51a in the plunger land 5'1. It will also be apparent that in the decreased speed setting direction of operation of the pilot valve 58 slow, stepped speed adjustments result in low rate servo movement by reason of the flow-interrupting action of the lower land slots 58a. If the plunger 52 is moved downwardly far enough to uncover the ports 62 by the entire upper edge of plunger land 58 non-interrupted, hence more rapid, flow of trapped fluid from above the speed setting servo piston 2i occurs. Such rapid ow may result from rapid control drum operation in the reduced-speed-setting direction or through the agency of several engine stopping devices as will be described. The engineer or operator cannot by rapid control drum operation vary the rate at which increased speed setting operation of servo piston 2l will occur.

Speed setting mechanism adjustment Because it is a diflicult matter to manufacture speeder springs (e. g. 38, Fig. l) so that springs of diierent, supposedly identical governors are exactly alike an adjustmentk of the idle speed setting position of servo piston 2| may be accomplished by variations in the equilibrium or neutral position of speed setting pilot valve 58 as determined by action of the various solenoids on the effective lever system of Figs. 2, 3, and 4.

For example, the stem of the pilot valve plunger, as in Fig. 4, may be operatively lengthened or shortened by suitable means as suggested, and locked in position after the idleV setting of piston 2| is found to obtain the desired idling speed of the engine.

In addition or alternatively, in order accurately to adjust the speeder spring for predetermined governed speeds, having in mind that very minute diiferences in stroke lengths on part of the various solenoid armatures (strokes being short) may be reflected in important inequalities inspeed setting step increments of the servo piston 2|, the solenoid armatures are made individually adjustable (adjustment means not shown, being of known construction) at one end or the other of the stroke of each. Adjustment of the beginningA pointsV only of respective. solenoid 8. strokes is usually sufficient in order to obtain the necessary servo step increments for accurate speed setting.

Engine lubrication system failure shutdown (automatic shutdown) Subject -system automatically effects shutting down of the engine in event (a) the engine lubricating oil system output pressure drops to a predetermined, i. e. dangerously low, value in relation to enginespeed and (b) the lubricating oil pump intake absolute'pressure drops to a predetermined abnormally low value (excessive pump suction). As previously indicated, however, thelubricating oil failure responsive shutdown operation needs to be delayed in order to permit routine starting; and the engineer or operator should be enabled to re-start the engine after shutdown and operate it at low speed for brief periods such as will enable study of the cause of lubricating oil system failures.

Engine shutdown (Fig. l) can conveniently be accomplished through hydraulic adjustment of the speed setting servo piston 2| to a top position (not shown) whereby the governor pilot valve plunger 3G is physically raised and maintained in a position such as will cause the pressure of trapped oil below the fuel adjusting power piston 23 to be dissipated quickly. A suitable means-for so accomplishing shutdown is the provision of a shutdown rod such as shown at 8l);V extending freely through an axial bore of the pistonl 2i, through the Speeder spring 38 and to a suitable swivel connection, represented in part schematically by member 8|, with the valve plunger. The upper end of the shutdown rod has an axially adjustable abutment 82 positioned for engagement with the upper stem portion 83 of the piston 2l which, when that piston is caused to move upwardly a predetermined distance above its idle speed setting position, pulls upwardly on the governor pilot valve plunger 36 through rod causing cutting ofi of engine fuel through already described means.

Engine shutdown control in event of engine lubrication oil system failure (and when hand shutdown operation at the governor is necessitated for any reason) is accomplished by long stroke downward movement of the speed setting servo relay valve plunger 52.

The oil-systern-failure-responsive apparatus, indicated generally at LF, upper left Fig. l, controls a valve 86 which diverts governor oil from accumulator-connected line 55 as through lines 99, 99a, described later, and line 85 to the working chamber l I8 of an oil-failure-shutdown motive unit lill which, through a lever H8 and lost motion connection |20 (also described later) is capable of depressing the speed setting servo relay valve plunger 52 a considerable distance (i. e. sufiicient to uncover pilot valve spill ports 62 by the entire upper end of plunger land 58).

TimeY delay (of shutdown) for engine starting and testing Operation iiuid for shutdown motive unit H0 is routed from governor-accumulator-connected line 55 to lubricating-system-failure responsive valve 86 through the annular chamber 54 around the speed setting servo pilot valve sleeve 5I ports 96 and 91 thereof which intermittently register with elongated axial slot 98 (or grooves) in the plunger 52 as the sleeve 5| rotates, and a line having continually interconnected portions 99 and 99a, thereby vsupplied with oil spurtwise.

f system at 94.

Portion 99 is continually open to valve sleeve ports 91, and portion 99a leads to a port |00 of valve 86 which port is normally closed. The rotating relay valve sleeve thus maintains one source of supply of operating pressure for shutdown motive unit H0 which, upon actuation of valve 36, iiows to said unit through line 85 at a denitely controlled relatively slow rate. Such slow rate supply of fluid enables the engine to be started, but only at idle or low speed setting, by delaying shutdown action for a period such as required for normal engine lubricating oil pressure to become established. The rate of action of shutdown motive unit I I0 can be further varied by an adjustable leak-ofi valve ||3 situated between valve te and said unit (shown in line 65).

For speed settings other than low or idle a spurtwise-flow-circumventing or by-pass valve 335 (lower left described later) is operated by the speed setting servo mechanism S to supply the line 99a leading to valve 8S continuously with governor oil for more rapid shutdown action upon functioning of the valve 86 to open line 95a to line 85.

Engine lubricating system failure detector Lubricating system failure responsive mechanism LF, in addition to Valve 85, comprises two pressure detecting motive units 87 and 88 embodying respective elastic diaphragm members S9 and Si! in sealed chambers 8S', S9 and QQ', S0" formed between separable casing portions 0i and 32. Chamber portion 8S is connected to the pressure side of the engine lubrication system at opening 93, and chamber portion 90 is similarly connected to the suction side of said The engine shutdown operation is accomplished through actuation of the valve 88 by whichever one of the devices 3l or 88 detects a failure or undesired condition of the lubricat ing system.

In order that the lubricating oil pressure as imposed on diaphragm Sie may vary with engine speed without initiating shutdown, and as a means of obtaining shutdown initiating force, a counterbalancing or opposing pressure varying with engine speed (actually with speed setting) is maintained in diaphragm chamber 89 by, for example, device |40 comprising a spool-like plug iii slidable in sleeve |36 and a control spring N8 operative on the plug to maintain adjusted pressure in diaphragm chamber 8d through a line Mii. Pressure maintained in said chamber ineures operation of valve 85, when lubricating oil pressure fails, in unbloeliing port it@ leading to shutdown motive unit HE. Device Mii will be more fully described under the heading Varied opposition to lubricating oil pressure.

Fort t8 ci valve te is formed in a suitable sleeve Siti' denning the valve chamber, and said port is normally blocked by land |93 of valve plunger H52 arranged for operation interchangeably by detector units 8l and 88 through the intermediary of a lever Idd pivoted at it to one end of the plunger EQ2 and push rods it? and its connected to respective diaphragms Sii and di! and bearing on respective ends of said lever.

rf'he diaphragms S9 and et have coil springs el" and ist acting through the diaphragm center supports on respective pushrods il and i923. Coil spring iti acts in a direction to maintain the pushrod lill' of diaphragm d@ against a xed stop, as does adequate lubricating oil pressure on that diaphragm. A spring |99 acts on the valve plunger |02 of valve 86 in a direction to vcause the plunger |02 and its operating lever to follow the pushrods |01 and ISS and unblock port |00 when either or both pushrods moves or move in a direction indicating a lubricating oil system failure. Spring |08 of the excessivesuction-responsive unit 88 is designed to resist movement of diaphragm out of its normal (illustrated) position except when excessively high suction occurs in chamber portion 90. Spring |08' enables the pushrod |08 to act as a ulcrum for the lever |04 when the diaphragm 89 is moved (during the described low lubricating oil pressure condition) to initiate the engine shutdown operation through action of valve iii and motive unit |'|0. Similar fulcrum action of the pushrod |01, when diaphragm 90 moves to initiate shutdown, is enabled by pressure of lubricating oil against the diaphragm 89 assisted by spring |01'. Simultaneous action or" both diaphragms also initiates shutdown asuming appropriate pressure in line |54 as partially described assisted by vspring H29.

Passage in diaphragm casing section 9| connecting the lubricating oil system iitting-receiving holes 93 and 94, is (during operation of subject system) closed by a valve plug d5'. The passage 05 (with valve 95 open) permits the lubricating oil to be introduced into the chamber 89' and bled into chamber S5 along with any air that might otherwise be trapped in contact with diaphragm 89.

Assuming action of either or both diaphragms t8 and 90 as described above, resulting in unblocking of port |00 of valve 8B by valve plunger land |03, the movement of the plunger by reason of its land closes a sump-connected outlet or spill port ||2 in bore |0|. Assuming further that the engine is operating at idle speed, governor oil from line 99a at a controlled or relatively slow rate is forced to-ilow in the line 05 and begins to move piston I4 of motive unit i It against the resistance of a piston return spring ||5 in a direction to cause the piston to depress on upstanding pushrod ||6 connected to the shutdown control lever H8.

The lever ||8 has a fixed fulcrum H9 at one end and the opposite end of the lever, as previously indicated, has a two-way lost motion connection |20 with the stem of speed setting servo relay valve plunger 52. The connection |20 of the lever, incidentally, is designed to prevvent the valve plunger 52 -from turning with its Acontinually rotating valve sleeve 5|.

Lever H8 has a positioning spring |22, which may be associated with the pushrod H5, to return the lever to its non-operating position clear oi the lost motion abutment surfaces |20 and |20 of the pilot valve plunger so that movement of said plunger by the signal-receiving electrical mechanism will be substantilaly unrestricted.

The normal distance between the pushrod i |f5 of shutdown `motive' unit |0 and its piston le is such that the spurtwise flow in line 99 requires a substantial period of time (which may be variably adjusted by valve i3 as already mentioned) in order to accomplish engine shutdown after initiation of that operation by a diaphragm unit el and/or 88. n

It will be yrecalled that downward operation of the speed setting servo pilot valve plunger 52 for more than a small part of its possible movement results in fast upward operation of speed setting servo piston 2| tothe top of its possible stroke and operation of engine shutdown rod 80.

aseguro Varied opposition tov lubricating oil. pressure As already mentioned, the time delay (prior to shutdown) affordedv by spurtwise supply of governor oil through line 98 is made available only in the idle speed setting of the servo piston 2 I. Said piston has a rigid arm |34 thereon arranged to control the position of the spurt-circumventing or by-pass valve |35, shown in Fig. 1 as comprising an upwardly spring biased valve plunger |31 in ported sleeve |36 already partially described. The plunger |31 has a land |38 which in the idle or low speed positions of the speed setting servo piston blocks port |39 connected to governor oil pressure (line 55a). In all high speed settings the plunger |31 is depressed by piston-connected part |34 to uncover ports |39 so that governor oil can be caused to flow steadily through line portion 99a etc., to the automatic shutdown piston unit I I as soon as plunger |02 i of valve 86 moves to unblock feed port |00.

For each engine speed there is a particular minimum safe lubricating oil pressure, the minimum increasing with engine speed. Therefore, the action of the engine-lubrication-systemfailure responsive shutdown mechanism is modified by the speed setting servo mechanism throughout the range of speed setting steps from #2 to #8.

The valve sleeve |36 of valve |35 also serves as the body of the pressure control device |40 action of which was earlier outlined and which appropriately modifies or variably opposes the action of the engine lubricating oil on the diaphragm 89 in accordance with engine speed. The spool-like floating plug or plunger |4| of said device |40 has a lower land |42 controlling admission of governor oil from line 55h at sleeve ports |43 into the line |44 communicating with the bore of the sleeve |36 below the floating plug through passages |45 therein and around the neck of the plug. The line |44 as already stated leads to diaphragm chamber 89" of lubricatingoil-pressure responsive motive unit 81. The top land I 46 of the floating plug normally closes spill ports |41 leading to governor sump and the plug is biased downwardly by a coil spring |48 which, incidentally, is connected to the lower end of spurt-circumventing or by-pass valve plunger |31 and to the oating plug by coils of the spring acting as screw threads. The space enclosing the spring |48 is suitably vented to sump.

By the above described arrangement governor oil is permitted to occupy the line |44 and diaphragm chamber 89" at pressure determined by the compressive resistance of the spring |48 which opposes upward (port-closing) movement of the floating plug through accumulating pressure therebelow acting on its lower end. As the valve plunger |31 is lowered by the speed setting servo piston 2|, in calling for increased engine speed, increasing pressure in line |44 is required hydrostatically to close ports |43. Therefore the pressure in line |44, as required to modify the described automatic shutdown action, is solely a function of engine speed setting. The action of the mechanism |40 is not affected by any other part of subject system.

Hand shutdown and alarm switch The lever I |8, engine shutdown action of which was described above, has a vlinkage including a two part rod |24 secured to it for operation by a lever having a manually accessible handle portion |25' externally of the governor case. The

lever |25v as shown is in the nature of a bellcrank having an arm |26 connected to the actuator arm |21 of an electric spring toggle switch |21 by which an alarm circuit (not shown) is operated concurrently with automatic engine shutdown due to lubricating oil system failure. The toggle spring latches the lever |25 in the indicated stop position as well as its run" position. The switch |21' ls operated in response to shutdown action of shutdown motive unit ||0 through the intermediary of a yielding portion of the linkage which portion, as shown, comprises a spring |28 in a housing |29 forming the upper part of rod |24.

The housing |29, through a shoulder |30 on rod |24v is held by spring |20 in operating abutment with the lower portion of the rod positively to transfer hand shutdown manipulation of the handle portion |25 of lever |25 to the lever IIB. The spring |28 enables the lubricating-oil-systemfailure-responsive motive unit I I0 to override any attempt by the operator, through manipulation of handle |25', to maintain the engine in operation indefinitely when the lubrication system is not functioning properly.

When the speed setting servo piston 2|, as a result of either automatic (lubricating oil system failure) or hand shutdown operation (lever |25) moves to its shutdown-rod-lifting position said piston 2|, through its arm |34, allows spurt circumventing valve plunger |31 to lift and with it the spool-like plug I4I of the lubricating-oilpressure-opposing mechanism |40 by relieving the force of its spring |48. Pressure in the line |44 leading to diaphragm chamber 89 thereby immediately falls to negligible value (spilled at plug sleeve ports |41) as the hand shutdown rod |24 and the lever I|8 become latched by switch arm |21 in shutdown position. Thereupon, in the absence of lubricating oil pressure, the spring |01 which acts upon the lubricating oil pressure side of the diaphragm B9 returns the valve plunger |02 of valve 06 to its initial illustrated position in which oil that has accumulated in shutdown piston unit ||0 can be spilled through vent port II2, whereby to enable the engine to be started up again.

After the described automatic shutdown or hand shutdown operation has been accomplished the handle |25 must be returned to its run position in order to free the speed setting pilot valve plunger 52 from restraint by shutdown control lever ||8 at its lost motion connection |20.

If it is desired to eliminate the fluid spilling action of valve 86 at port ||2 the spring |01' of mechanism LF can be omitted, in which case the needle valve I I3 or equivalent leak-off means will determine a period of rest, after automatic shutdown, before the engine can be re-started.

Load control: Transition operation Provision is made through a solenoid-actuated transition valve TV and transition piston T in connection with the load control valve mechanism 1 to render automatic adjustment of valve 1 by the governor power piston mechanism F through the tail rod 24 and its connecting linkage temporarily ineffective during changing of traction motor connections by the engineer or operator.

During such changing of locomotive traction motor connections, the generator excitation must be reduced to some low value in order to avoid arcing at the contact points. The operator's electrical control mechanism for effecting alteration of traction motor connections is arranged to energize the solenoid |10, Fig. 1, and operate transition mechanism 'I' in a direction to cause the vane of the load control motor through its valve 1 to move toward minimum excitation position. Reduced excitation means reduced engine load and as a result the governor power piston, to prevent overspeeding, moves to a low fuel position through action of the governor fly balls 34. Fuel decreasing motion of the governor power-piston-connected end of floating lever I4 would thereby, through normal operation of load control valve 1, result in the load control motor I moving toward maximum excitation. Thus when the new electrical connections are established the engine would be overloaded until a proper balance between generator excitation and engine speed had been established. To prevent such overloading normal load control action is made temporarily ineffective; and the vane motor is caused to move toward minimum excitation concurrently with changes in the traction motor connection.

Transition valve mechanism TV has a plunger |1| connected with the solenoid armature and operating in a suitable ported sleeve |12 connected as by a line |13 to the governor accumulator system through pressure line 40a. Ports |14 of the valve are controlled by a downward movement of a valve plunger land |15 to divert pressure fluid as through line |16 to the working chamber of a piston |18 which is normally retained in non-working position by a suitable spring |80. The operating rod of the transition piston |18 has a part |82 adapted ultimately to abut and raise an abutment portion |83 on the stem portion I 84 of the load control valve plunger 9.

When the solenoid |10 is energized by the operators electrical controls governor pressure oil flows from the line |13 raising piston |18, as stated above; and when the solenoid |10 is deenergized a suitable return spring |85 of the transition valve TV moves the solenoid armature and rod |1| to initial position meanwhile dumping the operating pressure for piston |18 through spill ports |86 leading to governor sump.

I claim: K

1. A positioning servo system adapted for control by remotely energized solenoid strokes of approximately equal value, said system comprising stroke receiving members arranged for applying subdivided input motions at two spaced input points on an effective diiferential lever, a servo having an output point which 4determines a floating plane in conjunction with the two input points, an eiective feedback lever lying in said plane and intersecting said diierential lever at a point so located with respect to the two input points as will, by selected combinations of the input subdivisions, provide a plurality of stepped net input subdivision adjustments greater than the subdivisions that can be obtained at either input point, said effective feedback lever having an actuating point for a relay element so located with reference to the servo output point and the intersection point as to determine the amplifying ratio of the system, said system being further characterized in that the effective differential lever and elective feedback lever are combined in a single substantially rigid plate.

2. In and for a servomechanism comprising a servomotor and a pilot valve which is movable in opposite directions from a neutral position to control movements of the servomotory a lever in the form of a single substantially rigid at plate two spaced points on which are operatively connected to the servomotor and valve respectively for operating the valve and imparting feedback motions to the valve, the plate having portions remotely of said points and laterally of the lever axis established by said points, means for imparting combinations of electromagnetically operated servo input signal motions of approximately equal length to said portions at two other points which establish an effective differential lever axis intersecting the iirst mentioned lever axis, and yielding means acting upon respective said portions of the plate in directions such as will maintain operative association between said two other points and the signal motion imparting means.

3. In and for a servomechanism comprising a servomotor and a pilot valve which is movable in opposite directions from a neutral position to control movements of the servomotor, a lever in the form of a single substantially rigid flat plate two spaced points on which are operatively connected to the servomotor and valve respectively for operating the valve and imparting feedback motions to the valve, the plate having portions remotely of said points and laterally of the lever axis established by said points, a pair of levers swingable in planes normal to the principal plane of the plate and acting thereon to impart combinations of servo input signal motions of approximately equal length to said portions at points establishing an effective differential lever axis intersecting the rst mentioned lever axis, and means operating to maintain said portions of the plate in contact with the levers for receiving the signal motions therefrom.

LLOYD JACKSON MOULTON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,199,036 Hodgkinson Sept. 19, 1916 1,795,896 Schenck Mar. 10, 1931 2,332,925 Martin Oct. 26, 1943 2,398,158 Ray Apr. 9, 1946 2,496,284 Gillespie Feb. 7, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 453,928 Great Britain 1936 

